Curtain stretcher and drier



R. V. LYON. murmur: SITHETCHER AND DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 5. 1920. 5

15,086. 3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Reissued Apr. 12, 1921.

SHEET 2.

H. V. LYON.

cumm STRETCHER AND omen. APPLICATIION FILED JAN, 5, I920. Reissued Apr. 12, 1921.

i. 5: J 5 m 'R. V. LYON.

CURTAIN snmcuzn AND DRIER.

A PPLICATION FILED JAN- 5, I920.

Reissued Apr. 12, 1921.

, UNITED STATES PATENT oFF oE.

sonar vamim nwn won, or serum, NEW You, assmisoa so In may IACEINBY comm, or noawoon, dam, s coiu'onarion or on'ro.

OUMAIN 8m AND D3111 Toallwhomit ma concern:

Be it known t at I, Roam-r VALENTINE LYON, a citizen of the United States; residing at Buifalo, in the county of Erie and State of. New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain Stretchers and Driers, of which the following. is a specification.

. for receiving the side edges of the curtains Thisinvention relates to curtain stretchers and driers and more particularly to devices of this kind for use in laundries or wherever a' large number of curtains are handled.

The object of the invention is to provide 4 animproved device of'this kind-which enables curtains to be handled more conveniently; whose dryin capacity is commensurate withthe abi ity of the operator to apply the curtains to the stretching device, t ereby enabling an operator. to work continuously at the device and to replace fin-V ished dried curtains upon the stretchin device with other curtains to. be stretche and dried as rapidly as the stretching device comes around to the loading station; which insures convenient stretching of the curtain and insures a true rectangular shape or form, thereby enabli the curtains of a air to be stretched and driedto the same or n; and, finally, a device of this kind wherein the longitudinally extending bars are moved'uniformly toward and from each other from the-opposite sides of the frame, so that the two curtain bars are alwa s equally accessible from opposite sides of t e frame. 7

Further objects of the invention are in art obvious and in part will appear more in detailhereinafter.

The invention comprises the curtain stretcher and drier hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawin which represent one embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a plan view partly broken out to expose the interior parts; Fig. 2 is across sectional elevation 'on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking in the I. direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a detail arrows;

cross section, on a larger scaie, on the line 33, Figi l, looking in the direction of the 4-4, Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are similar yiews upon the lines 5-5 and 9-6, respectively,

'openmg 7 g. 4 is a similar view. on the line Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a detail end viewof one of the transversely extending curtain holdi members; Fi 8 is a detail cross sectiona view on the line 8-8, Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a detailcross sectional view on the line 9-9,

1' Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view illustrating one end portion of a curtain, holding bar; Fig. 11 is a plan view, showing by a suitable support. .As, illustrated said 9 22? is builtup of wood with an. inner m lining. 2 so as to be moisture proof.

The lower portion 3 of the casing is int." it or is otherwise supported at, or below t e level of the floor 4 and in said lower portion are located a series of heat ipe's or coils 5 connected'to. a Source if I i e P dium, such as a source of steam. The upper portion of the casing has two'curved side Specification o! Beinued Letters Patent; n i id. A '1 192 I Original Io. 1,005,111, dated ilovember is, me, lerial no. i'raias; fled m a,

I 1917. Application tor I reissue flied January 5, 1900'. Serial 170.9493. y

at mewalls 5 and two opposite straight end walls 6, while its extreme. top is provided with an opening 7, around whose edges is located a flexible sealing 'or closing member-to a series of canvas or otherflexible strips 8-;

- attached to the. upper edges of the casing in walls and whose innen edges project into the crerate with an inner frame, as will more f y The chamber 9 within the upperportion I of'the casing receives -the'inner frame 10 on which are placed the curtains to be stretched and dried. This inner'frame comprises a hollow' closed sheet metal member aving end walls 11 and series of side walls 12, any suitable number of; which may be used. In other words, the cross sectional shape of the frasime may l'ile1 trihangulatig uare ta n ,orany o ers ape, :i rovide 2 2811 6: or flat faces on the outside of said inner frame member umformly of which. is attached a set of curtain holding and receiving devices.

spaced around its periphery and to each end i.

In the device shown in the drawings the inner frame is triangular in cross section as appears on 2.

he inner rame is rotatabl mounted in.

the outside casin or jacket an is so located therein that eac of the several side walls 12 of the inner frame in turn comes to a horizontal position across the opening 7 at the top of the casing, in which position the sealing flaps 8 extend over the edges of the frame and completely seal or close the opening 7 for the purpose hereinafter stated, but

rotatin end is said flaps are sufliciently flexible so that they are easily pushed out of the way by the frame. t k

The inner frame 10 is provided with ,a

horizontal shaft extendin clear through the same or with 'stub sha ts 13 at its ends which pro'ect through openingsin the outer 17,-by means of which it may be tightened up to clamp the rotating frame 10 in any position to which. it may be adjusted.

On each of the side walls 12 of the inner frame is' loca'ted a set of curtain -holdin and stretchingdevices now to be describe As said devices are identical, a description of one will suflice for all.

- Each curtain holding device comprises two longitudinally extending side bars 18 to receive the side edges of the curtain and two transversely extendin end bars 19 to receive the end edges of t e curtain. Both sets of bars are suitably supported some distance from the walls .12 of the inner frame 10 so that when the stretched curtain is in chamber 9 the heatedair can circulate freely more-readily dr the same, and furthermore, the curtain ho ding frame at "the loading station is spaced far enough away from themner frame 10 so that the damp curtain being applied thereto will not become dry before it is fully and properly stretched on the stretcher.

,At the four corners of each of the side walls 10 are located upstanding angle members 20, suitably spaced and attached to a wall 10 and which in turn supportthelongitudinally extending side frame angle irons 21 and end angles 22.

Except as hereinafter channel member 23 in which is fastened a sheet of card cloth 25. The latter is a well known material formed of a woven or other fabric with a very large number of small closely spaced fine points-or pins standing on both sides of the curtain and" v o noted, all four of "the curtam holding bars-18, 19 are of the same construction, each being formed of a moss up at a slight angle to its surface, the ins or points on each of the four curtain hol ing here being inclined outwardly from the centerof the frame. 4

- The two side bars 18 are adjustable simultaneously and by the same means with a uniform movement toward and from each other, so that both.of said members are always spaced the same distance from the two sides of the frame for whatever size adjusted. Both of the two end bars 19 may also be adjustable in the same manner, but as shown one of the said members 19 isstationary and is attached by screws, bolts or the like 26, to the slde frame members 21.

The other end member is provided at its oposite ends with channel members 27 opening'outwardly and embracin the inwardly of the si e frame memextending flan orm guides for the movable hers 21 which her 19 as shown in Fig. 8. The channel members 27 are also secured to the upper .bi hts of two endless chains 28 passing over er sprockets 29 near one endof the rame and at, their opposite ends over sprockets 30 fixed to the opposite ends of a shaft 31 journaled in brackets 32 attached to the frame. One of said brackets is rovided with a set screw 33 whose inner en engages shaft 31.- In stretching the curtain one end is secured to the card cloth on the stationary bar 19, brush. The other end of the curtaln may then be attached to the movable bar 19 which is pulled toward the end of the frame to stretch the curtain. The sprockets and maintain a parallel relationshi with its companion at the opposite end 0 When thecurtain is fully stretched the screw 22 is ti htened up to maintain the end stretch. f desired the bar 19 may first clamped in the roper adjustedposition with the hem en of the curtain looped thereon and'the other end of the curtam may be pulled or stretched to and secured to the other endbar.

Some curtains have a hem at oneend.

For more convenientlyv handling such cur-' tains the adjustable bar 19 at both ends is the frame.-

as by patting it down, with a bristle chains cause the movable member 19 to iio 34 to receive a small rod 35. The opening in one of said ears is provided with a but-' tonhole slot 35 through which can be passed a radial pin or projection 36 on the rod 35 after which said rod can be turned one uarter of a revolution to lock it in lace. pin 37 on the rod prevents it from ing pushed in too far.- y Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modified form of curtain hem holding bar. Inthis construction the adjustable or movable and bar 19" carries the card cloth, as before. and at one end, not shown, is provided with a perforatedupstanding ear similar to the-ears 34 before described. At its other ad said bar carries an upstanding car {34 having an open slot 50 on one side. Said ear carries a pivoted latch 51 rovided with an opening or slot 52 in one Sit e and with a laterally exv inserted in the hem of the curtainand one the ear on one end of the bar 19".

of its ends inserted in the plain openin r in thumb piece 53 is then depressed to expose the opening 50 enabling the hem holding bar to be inserted into position in the ear 34. Release of'the latch .51 allows it to spring to its position shown in Fig. 12 in whichposition. it locks the bar 35 in place. To release'the bar the latch is depressed, as will be readily understood.

The two side bars 18 are supported by stationary cross bars or rods 38 located near the ends of the frame and are provided with dependin brackets slidable upon said rods. The. brac ets for 'thetwo bars are slightly different. One bar 18 at the left in Fig. :1

has two brackets 39 while the other bar at the right in Fig. 1 has two brackets40. At one side of the frame is located a longitudinally extending shaft 41 journaled in bearings 42 carried by the frame, said shaft carrying two sprockets 43 over which pass endless chains 44 traveling over idler s rockets 45 at the other side of the frame.

he brackets 39 of one bar are also provided with arms 47 fastened to the lower bights of the chains .while the brackets 40 of the other side bar are provided with arms 48 attached to upper bights of the chain. Consequently the two side bars 18 move uniformly toward and from opposite sides of the frame and are maintalned 'in parallel relationship throughout their range of adjustment.

No operating levers or mechanism are necessary for any of the adjusting members of this stretcher and drier. In operation the side and end bars are usually adjusted to the approximate size of the curtain to be stretched and the parts clamped. The cartain is then secured to one end bar, pulled out laterally to approximately correct width and stretched and secured to the other .end bar. Next the side edges are pulled out and secured to the side bars. At any time during the operation either set of bars can be adjusted more accurately or to more or less stretch the curtain, if desired. Both Sets of bars may be maintained or held in The apparatus is simple and can be manipulated continuously by one or two operators, its drying capacity being suflicient to keep pace with the ability of the opera- What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary casing having a top openin and an inner frame mounted in said casing and provided with a series of circumferentiallyspaced walls, each of said walls carrying curtain stretching means, said frame being rotatable in said casing to expose any of said curtain stretching means above said openin 2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationar casin provided with a top opening, a clbsed ho low frame rotatably mounted within said casing and provided with several outer walls spaced circumferentially around its axis, and curtain stretching means carried by and spaced from each of said walls.

3. Apparatus of the character described. comprising a stationar casing provided with a top opening, a c osed hollow frame rotatably mounted withinsaid casing and providedwith several outer walls spaced circumferentially around its axis, curtain stretchin means carried by and spaced from each of said walls, and means atedges of the opening in said casing and cooperating with each of said walls to close the casmg 0 emng.

4. pparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary casing provided with a top opening, a closed hollow frame rotatably mounted within said casing and provided with several outer walls spaced circumferentially around its axis, curtain stretching means carried by and spaced from each of said walls, and a series of flexible flaps adapted to permit said frame to be rotated through said opening and arranged to close said opening when one of said walls is in the same ing. V

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a hollow casing, a frame rotatable therein and provided with a series of walls circumferentially-spaced about its tom to supply damp curtains to the frames.

plane as said openaxis, each of said walls carrying curtain tively adjustable end bars to. receive the table therein and curtain ends, and transversely adjustable curtain holding side bars movable uniformly toward and from each other.

6. Apparatus ofithe character described,

comprising a hollow casing, a frame rotarovided with a series of walls clrcumferentlally spaced about its axis,

' each of said Walls carrying curtain stretch-.

comprising a hollow casing, a frame rotatable therein and provided with a series of walls circumferentially spaced about its axis, each of said walls carrying curtain stretching means, said means comprising relatively adjustable end bars, means for clamping the top same in any position to which they may be adjusted, guide bars, side bars slidable thereon, and a transversely extending endless chain connected to said side bars.

8; Apparatus of the character described, comprising a hollow casing, a frame rota- .table therein and rovided with a series of walls circumferentially spaced about its axis, each of said walls carrying curtain stretching means, said means comprising relatively adjustable end bars, means for clamping the same in any osition to which they may be adjusted, gui e bars, side bars slidable thereon, and a transversely extending endless chain connected to said side"bars,-one of said bars being connected to each bight of the chain.

9. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of a curtainare adaptedto be attached and an 10. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite ed es of a curtain are adapted to be attac ed, an endless belt having oppositely moving parts one of which is connected with one of said bars and the other one with the other bar, and wheels around which the opposite turns of said belt pass.

11. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges .of a curtain are adapted to be attached, an endless belt having. oppositely moving parts one of which is connected with one of said bars and the other with the other bar, wheels around which the opposite turns of said belt pass, a bracketv on which one of said wheels is mounted, and a shaft on which the other one of said wheels is mounted.

12. A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of a curtain are adapted to be attached, an endless belt having oppositel moving parts one of which is connected wit one of said bars and the other one with the other bar, guide rods arranged. transversely of said stretching bars, and slides movable lengthwise on said guide rods and carrying sai bars respective y.

13 A curtain drier comprising two parallel stretching bars to which opposite edges of a curtain are adapted to be attached, an endless belt having oppositely moving parts one of which is connected wit one of said bars and the other one with the other'bar, and clamping saidbelt.

14. A curtain drier comprising a stretching bar adapted to be inserted in the hem of a curtain and a carrier for supporting said barcomprising an eye which receives one end of said bar and a member which receives the other end of said bar, said bar-being provided with pins which are arranged on opposite sides of said member for holding the bar against longitudinal movement; p

In testimon whereof I aflix m si ature.

ROBEdZT VALENTI means for holding 

